Aloha!Will be in Honolulu, Hawaii July 27 to August 9. Students interested in studying jazz vibraphone and improvisation, please email me as soon as possible for requirements and to schedule your lesson times. New students must have their own vibraphone or access to a vibraphone. (Or, if possible, students that have their own vibraphone, please let me know if I could borrow or rent your vibraphone to give lessons. Will give you free lessons in return.) Thanks. Email: tom@tomtoyama.com.Mahalo & Aloha!

Rest in PeaceDistinguished Music Professor David N. Baker, the Chairman of the Jazz Department at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.Died March 26, 2016.

Very sorry to hear of Dave Baker's passing.

Professor Baker, if you can hear me from Heaven, thanks very very much for taking the time to give me a solid jazz foundation upon which to build.I remember you as if it were yesterday, my first jazz teacher, the one who took time out of your busy day to give me private lessons .... wheeling my vibraphone into your little office and you teaching me those really hip Perfect 4th patterns and other licks/vocabulary that I still currently use. Because of you, I participated and received a Bachelor of Music in IU's jazz studies program, got to play vibes and learn in Indiana University's number one jazz big band for 3 years, got my masters in jazz performance from U. of Miami on a full graduate assistantship, had other professional opportunities/experiences later with Ira Sullivan, Mongo Santamaria, Paquito D'Rivera and others. And received awards, performed on television and in jazz festivals in the USA and abroad. And thanks for all your wonderful letters of recommendations and all your encouragement and support all these past years. You played a crucial part in my development as a jazz musician. Without you it would not have happened!

With sorrow of your passing, wonderful precious memories of you and your teachings, and with my most grateful appreciation: Thank you very much from my heart!Tom Toyama